Uzbekistan has enacted a new constitutional law that significantly strengthens the status of the presidential administration, granting its officials lifetime immunity and expanding its control over key state organs. The legislative shift comes amid the rising prominence of Saida Mirziyoyeva, the eldest daughter of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who currently heads the administration. In late August 2026, Mirziyoyeva demonstrated her growing diplomatic role during an official visit to China, where she held meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other high-ranking officials.
The new legislation, framed by presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov as a measure to address a "legal gap" in regulating the administration's interactions with other state bodies, was fast-tracked through parliament. The Legislative Chamber passed the Law on the Administration of the President on August 6, and the Senate granted its approval the following day on August 7. President Mirziyoyev signed the bill into law on August 14, following a process that excluded public discussion and kept the text of the law undisclosed prior to its signing.
The presidential administration was originally established in 2018, two years after Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed power, to offer organizational, analytical, and supervisory support. It was initially led by Zaynilobiddin Nizomiddinov from 2018 to 2022, followed by Sardor Umurzakov from 2022 to 2023. During this period, Mirziyoyeva held several prominent roles, including deputy director of the Agency for Information and Mass Communications from 2019 to 2020, and deputy chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Fund for Support and Development of Mass Media from 2020 to 2022. She transitioned to head the Department for Communications and Information Policy in 2022, and became an assistant to the president in August 2023, at which point Umurzakov was reassigned and the head-of-administration post was temporarily abolished. The position was re-established in June 2025, with Mirziyoyeva appointed as its head.
Consisting of four chapters and 34 articles, the new law substantially broadens the authority of the first daughter. Unlike the prime minister, the head of the administration is appointed and dismissed directly by the president without requiring approval from the Legislative Chamber. Under Article 7, the administration is empowered to issue mandatory instructions to the heads of state organizations, enforce disciplinary actions, and dismiss officials who fail to perform their duties. The law also grants the administration direct access to the databases of all government institutions.
Furthermore, Article 18 provides the administration with direct oversight of regional hokims (governors). It can monitor the execution of presidential directives, coordinate the administrative process for appointing and dismissing regional governors, and unilaterally dismiss district and city hokims for illegal acts or improper behavior. The law also impacts the independence of the judiciary through Article 19, which tasks the administration—a body lacking judicial functions or independent accountability—with coordinating judicial reforms and drafting proposals to restructure the court system.
Under Article 21, Mirziyoyeva's administration will oversee the state's anti-corruption compliance framework. The head of the administration is authorized to appoint and dismiss deputy heads of state bodies at the republican level who handle internal anti-corruption compliance. These deputies report directly to the presidential administration, placing anti-corruption reporting under an entity whose officials are legally guaranteed lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution, arrest, or official inspections.
The law also automatically designates the head of the presidential administration as the deputy chair of the Security Council. Through the Security Council's Secretariat, Mirziyoyeva will oversee the president's constitutional powers concerning the armed forces, national defense, mobilization, security, and emergency operations, effectively granting her authority over the nation's military and security apparatus.
Observers view the enactment of the law as a clear signal of political consolidation. It legally codifies the extensive, unaccountable authority currently exercised by the president's daughter, who holds her position by presidential appointment rather than public election. Additionally, the law establishes a formal mechanism to secure executive authority should the president become unable to complete his term, positioning Mirziyoyeva as a highly empowered potential successor equipped with sweeping control over the country's governance and security systems.
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The new law, which consists of four chapters and 34 articles, extends the first daughter’s power. The document establishes that the head of the administration is not elected, but appointed and dismissed by the president himself. The Legislative Chamber’s approval is not required, as it is with the prime minister post. Not only can the administration now “issue mandatory instructions and assignments to heads of state bodies and organizations” (article 7), but punish those who fail at their job with “disciplinary actions,” and even fire them.
